First National Bank Building was Richmond’s first high-rise building, according to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Surprisingly (to me, at least), this 1913 landmark was built as a bank but commissioned by a railroad, Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company.
The massive brick-and-stone building is an example how architects originally envisioned high-rise buildings – as classical columns, with base, shaft, and capital. Unfortunately, the original cornice has been removed, altering the capital.
After a succession of banks occupied this stately home, the building has been converted to apartments.
- Name: First National Apartments, First National Bank, Old First and Merchants National Bank Building, BB&T Bank Building
- Location: 823 East Main Street
- Year Completed: 1913
- Architect: Alfred Charles Bossom, Clinton & Russell
- Style: Classical Revival
- Wikipedia: First National Bank Building
- Virginia Department of Historic Resources: First National Bank Building
- National Register of Historic Places: Registration Form
- First National Apartments: Rental website
- Google Map
Gallery: Hover over photos for captions; click to view images in lightbox
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First National Bank Building, now First National Apartments, Richmond’s first high-rise, built in 1913.
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First National Bank Building, now First National Apartments, Richmond’s first high-rise, built in 1913.
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First National Bank Building, now First National Apartments, Richmond’s first high-rise, built in 1913.
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First National Bank Building, now First National Apartments, Richmond’s first high-rise, built in 1913.
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First National Bank Building, now First National Apartments, Richmond’s first high-rise, built in 1913.
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First National Bank Building, now First National Apartments, Richmond’s first high-rise, built in 1913.
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First National Bank Building, now First National Apartments, Richmond’s first high-rise, built in 1913.
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First National Bank Building, now First National Apartments, Richmond’s first high-rise, built in 1913.
All images copyright © Kenneth Grant / photos taken October 2019 with Canon 5D Mark iv
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